EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. –
Savannah Nierintz (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby) threw a one-hit shutout, and the Kutztown University softball team pounded out a season-high 15 hits in a 9-0, five-inning victory in game one against East Stroudsburg University to clinch a spot in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) playoffs next month. KU scored the tying and winning runs in the seventh inning of game two in a 3-2 victory in PSAC East action at ESU's Zimbar Field.
Nierintz retired the first nine batters she saw in the opener, but allowed ESU runners to reach base in the fourth via fielding error, walk and ESU's first hit of the game to load the bases with one out. Nierintz retired the next two batters without allowing a run to preserve the shutout.
Nierintz started both games of the doubleheader for just the second time this season (March 30 at SHIP). She threw two complete games Sunday with five strikeouts and one walk in each game.
As great as KU's pitching was in game one, the offense tallied a season-high 15 hits in just five innings. Nine different players got a hit for the Golden Bears. Leadoff hitter
Sara Keeny (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a stolen base.
Freshman
Angie Carty (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area) continues her strong play since entering the lineup with a 2-for-2 game, including a two-run single in the second. She also scored two runs, highlighted by her successfully stealing home on a double-steal attempt.
Cheyenne Jones (Levittown, Pa./Harry S Truman (Northwest Florida State)),
Taylor Knappenberger (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) and
Blayse Cholish (Peckville, Pa./Valley View) also had two hits apiece in game one.
Kutztown won game two with two unearned runs with two outs in the seventh inning. KU entered the inning down 2-1. It put a runner on first with one out, and ESU went on to commit three infield errors in to plate the game-tying and winning runs for Kutztown.
Keeny went 2-for-4 with another stolen base in game two, while Cholish scored two of the three runs for KU, including one by stealing home.
The Golden Bears have two dates left in their regular season. They play at West Chester University on Friday, April 28 at 2:30 p.m., host Millersville University for Senior Day on Saturday, April 29 at 1 p.m. for the regular-season finale, with the PSAC Championships in Quakertown starting on Wednesday, May 3.
